E. E. Cummings

Now I Lay

Now I Lay - meaning Summary

Surrender to Night and Renewal

The poem presents a quiet, prayer-like surrender at dusk that contrasts what is "loaned" (sunlight, life, day) with what is freely "given" (night, death, rain, snow). The speaker lies down in darkness and embraces transience, imagining a dream that exceeds comprehension or possession. The mood shifts from gentle resignation to hopeful renewal as the final image invokes Spring, suggesting cyclical regeneration beyond mortality and ephemeral light.

Read Complete Analyses

Now i lay(with everywhere around) me(the great dim deep sound of rain;and of always and of nowhere)and what a gently welcoming darkestness-- now i lay me down(in a most steep more than music)feeling that sunlight is (life and day are)only loaned:whereas night is given(night and death and the rain are given;and given is how beautifully snow) now i lay me down to dream of(nothing i or any somebody or you can begin to begin to imagine) something which nobody may keep. now i lay me down to dream of Spring

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